CHAMPIONS: 10 Defining Moments Of Our Title-Winning Season

One of the favourites to be relegated having just survived the drop during the 2014/15 Barclays Premier League season, the Foxes swept aside Sunderland in the sun at King Power Stadium on the opening day of the 2015/16 campaign. In 13 sensational first-half minutes, City found themselves 3-0 up thanks to Jamie Vardy’s first goal of the season and Riyad Mahrez’s double, before Marc Albrighton rounded off the scoring in the second half. 

The pizza’s on Claudio – LCFC 1 Palace 0 – 24 October, 2015 

While Leicester City went on to become one of the best defensive units in the league, it took them until their 10th Premier League game of the season to earn a clean sheet. The Foxes’ hunger for a first shutout eventually paid off, as they beat Crystal Palace 1-0 at King Power Stadium in October. Claudio promised pizza and delivered – not literally of course – as the squad headed to local pizza house Peter Pizzeria. 

Vardy’s goal streak – LCFC 1 Man Utd 1 – 28 November, 2015 

Jamie Vardy’s goal streak was just one of a number of records broken by Leicester City and their players during the 2015/16 season. After netting a late penalty at Bournemouth in late August, few could have predicted the goalscoring run that would subsequently follow for the striker. Finding the back of the net against Aston Villa, Stoke City, Arsenal, Norwich City, Southampton, Crystal Palace, West Bromwich Albion, Watford and Newcastle United, Vardy had already equalled Manchester United great Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s record of scoring in 10 consecutive Barclays Premier League games. The side Vardy could break his record against? Manchester United, of course. It would take a moment of brilliance to breach the Red Devils’ defence, and when Christian Fuchs delivered a stunning no-look pass into the feet of City’s No.9, Vardy made no mistakes, beating David De Gea with a fierce low strike, before wheeling away in wild celebration. 

Mahrez stuns the champions – LCFC 2 Chelsea 1 – 14 December, 2015 

By the time Chelsea came to King Power Stadium at the end of April 2015, Jose Mourinho’s men were already being labelled as the champions elect. Fast forward to December 2015 and the London outfit were enduring a tough spell of results, while the Foxes were battling it out at the other end of the table. The star at King Power Stadium on the night proved to be Riyad Mahrez, who set up the opening goal for Jamie Vardy, before twisting and turning Cesar Azpilicueta and curling in past Thibaut Courtois. Could Riyad do it on a cold Monday night in Leicester against the champions? Of course. 

Top at Christmas – Everton 2 LCFC 3 – 19 December, 2015 

It was a memorable Christmas Day for Foxes fans all around the globe, as they witnessed their side dispatch Everton 3-2 at Goodison Park on 19 December, as two Riyad Mahrez penalties and a strike from Shinji Okazaki ensured City would be top of the tree. In Premier League history, no team had ever been bottom of the table at Christmas one season and top the next. 

Huth’s huge header – Tottenham 0 LCFC 1 – 13 January, 2016 

Leicester City’s initial target of 40 Barclays Premier League points, set by manager Claudio Ranieri at the start of the season, was already achieved by the time the Foxes headed to White Hart Lane on a cold Wednesday evening. While at this stage Tottenham fell seven points behind City, few could have predicted that come May, these were the two sides that would be fighting it out for Premier League glory. Robert Huth’s header seven minutes from time eventually proved to be a major goal in the race for the title. 

Stunning one of the title favourites – Man City 1 LCFC 3 – 6 February, 2016 

The Foxes, determined to extend their advantage at the top of the table, expertly picked off Manchester City with one of their finest displays of the season in early February. The fixture came in between clashes with Liverpool and Arsenal – a run of games that were certain to test Claudio Ranieri’s men. An unlikely double from Robert Huth, including a header that seemed to hang in the air for an age, and Riyad Mahrez’s stunning individual effort sent City five points clear at the summit. 

Ulloa’s earthquake – LCFC 1 Norwich 0 – 27 February, 2016 

Following an already ground-breaking season, Leonardo Ulloa made the headlines in late February for two reasons. After City suffered defeat at the hands of title rivals Arsenal, Claudio Ranieri’s men were looking for a positive response against Norwich City. Up popped Ulloa, who fired in on 89 minutes to earn a 1-0 win and spark a stunning sequence of victories. Not only was it a significant goal for the striker, but it also triggered an earthquake that measured 0.3 on the Richter Scale. 

No pressure – LCFC 4 Swansea 0 – 24 April, 2016 

Looking to return to winning ways having drawn 2-2 against West Ham United in the previous game, the Foxes had the perfect answer for their doubters. In a performance that oozed quality, despite the absence of suspended leading scorer Jamie Vardy, Leonardo Ulloa’s double and goals from Riyad Mahrez and Marc Albrighton dismissed the Swans in style. The win temporarily moved City eight points clear of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur with just three games to play. 

A captain’s goal – Man Utd 1 LCFC 1 – 1 May, 2016 

The Foxes headed to Old Trafford needing just three points from their remaining three Premier League games to secure the title. The Red Devils started well, with Anthony Martial putting them 1-0 up after just eight minutes. But when Wes Morgan arrived unmarked deep in the Manchester United box, the City skipper made no mistakes and nodded in past David De Gea. That goal meant Tottenham Hotspur would have to beat Chelsea a day later to keep their title dreams alive, but Mauricio Pochettino's men dropped points at Stamford Bridge, and the Foxes were crowned Premier League champions for the first time in the Club's history.